Football
9y

Manuel Pellegrini delighted after Wilfried Bony scores first City goal

MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini was delighted Wilfried Bony ended a two-month wait for his first Manchester City goal in the 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

The striker was signed from Swansea for an initial fee of 25 million pounds in January but was away at the African Cup of Nations then.

And he did not find the net for City until his seventh appearance -- though just his second start -- as Pellegrini's team ended a run of two straight defeats.

The Chilean said in a news conference: "It is important for him. He is just arriving to our squad and he is coming from playing six games in 18 days in the Africa Cup.

"That is not good for players in this moment of the season. That is maybe why he is not in the starting 11 [more often] but it is important not only for Bony, but for all the players when you have the chance to do it, to do it as he did today."

Fernando and David Silva scored City's other goals as they reduced the gap to league leaders Chelsea to three points, but Jose Mourinho's team, who face Hull on Sunday, now have two games in hand.

Pellegrini added: "We can win the eight games and if Chelsea don't drop points, we cannot win the title. The important thing is not to think about other teams, it is to think about our team, to improve and win the next game against Crystal Palace."

Albion had defender Gareth McAuley sent off in the second minute for a foul committed by team-mate Craig Dawson on Bony.

Pellegrini believed it was "a clear red card" but did not discuss the issue of mistaken identity.

"It is a free kick and the chance was very clear," he said. "It is the last man. The referee has to do what the rule says."

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